Apparatus for use in lining cavities

ABSTRACT

Cavities are lined by means of apparatus which is inserted in the cavity and expanded to apply lining material, placed between apparatus and cavity wall, onto the wall of the cavity.

United States Patent [191 Eccleston 145] Apr. 17, 1973 APPARATUS FOR USE IN LINING CAVITIES [75] Inventor: Kenneth Thomas Eccleston, Nechells, England [73] Assignee: Foseco International Limited, Birmingham, England [22] Filed: Apr. 1, 1971 [21] App1.N0.: 130,429

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr; 1, 1970 Great Britain ..l5,467/7O [52] US. Cl. ..l64/339, 29/238, 156/556 [51] Int. Cl. ..B22d 45/00 [58] Field of Search .....164/137, 339, 16;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,077,646 2/1963 Tigerschiold 164/16 3,209,413 10/1965 Ednell ..164/l37 Primary Examiner- -Robert D. Baldwin Attorney-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann ABSTRACT Cavities are lined by means of apparatus which is inserted in the cavity and expanded to apply lining material, placed between apparatus and cavity wall, onto the wall of the cavity.

5 Clairm, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR1 7197s saw 3 :nF 3

APPARATUS FOR USE IN LINING CAVITIES This invention relates to apparatus for use in lining rectangular cavities with lining slabs, and particularly to a heading unit for use in positioning hot-top lining slabs around the walls of a rectangular ingot mould or ingot mould head box and then applying the slabs to those walls.

In this particular case, that of lining ingot mould heads or head boxes, the problem is to provide an apparatus which will quickly and easily affix four slabs, located in the form of a rectangle, firmly and securely on the walls of a mould or head box. The problem is made more difficult by the fact that the walls are often uneven and may have a camber. Furthermore, the four walls may taper inwardly or outwardly. The process of lining may be divided into two stages, that of positioning the lining slabs and that of fixing them in place. The second of these may be effected by providing adhesive at the lining slab mould wall interface, and by then pressure the slabs onto contact with the mould or head box walls.

In order to achieve correct positioning, it is desirable to use some sort of expanding unit which may be lowered into the cavity to be lined, and thus define an annular space into which the lining is to be fitted. The lining may then be inserted in the form of slabs into this annular space, and these slabs then pressed outwardly by the unit against the walls of the cavity to secure them adhesively thereto. Alternatively, the lining slabs may be positioned on the unit before the unit is lowered into the cavity to be lined, and then pressed outwardly against the cavity walls after the unit has been lowered According generally to the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in lining cavities which comprises a frame carrying a plurality of pressure plates arranged to form a shape similar to but of smaller size than that of the cavity to be lined, and means for moving the plates to increase the size of the shape, the outer surface of each plate being provided with a flexible pressure applying surface.

According more specifically to the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in lining cavities which comprises a frame carrying four pressure plates arranged in the form of a rectangle, opposed plates being linked together for movement in generally opposite horizontal direction to increase or decrease the size of the rectangle so formed and means for moving the pairs of plates outwardly. Preferably, the pairs of plates are arranged to move sequentially outwardly, the smaller plates, i.e., those forming the short side of the rectangle, moving outwardly first.

Subh preferred apparatus may include first and second operating members each linked to one pair of plates, movement of each said operating member to move the plates outwardly being in the same direction, the two members being resiliently biased a predetermined distance apart in that direction, but able to move toward one another, and actuation means acting on said second operating member to move it in the said direction.

The means for moving the pairs of plates may be hand operated, but preferred are mechanical devices, such as electrically driven screw shafts or (most preferably) hydraulic or pneumatic piston/cylinder arrangements.

In one preferred embodiment, the frame is mounted on a base carrying a single actuation means acting initially to move the unit relative to the base to a preset depth into a cavity, e.g., a mould or head box to be lined, and then to operate sequentially the outward movement of each pair of plates.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the frame may be mounted on a suitable base or super-structure carrying mean for positioning the frame, and the individual plates may be operated by suitable piston/cylinder devices, all independently controllable.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is provided with means for centering the frame in the cavity to be lined, for example oppositely projecting linked pairs of prongs each pair being axially moveable and projecting perpendicularly from each of the four sides of the rectangle formed by the pressure plates. On actuation, e.g., by a piston cylinder device, the prongs are made to move apart in unison, always keeping at the same distance from the center of the frame. Whichever prongs touch the cavity wall first cause the frame, if freely mounted, to move to the central position. The necessary freedom of movement of the frame may be arranged, for example, by hanging it on chains or wires.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the pressure plate is constituted to give a flexible pressure applying surface. One way of achieving this result is to provide that the face of the plate is one side of an inflatable flexible bag e.g., of rubber or rubberized cloth material. Another way is to form the'pressure plate from a substantially planar plate bearing on its outer surface a large number of resiliently mounted pressure pads.

In the use of apparatus according to the invention and having a flexible pressure applying surface, it is found that the pressure plate applies an even pressure over the whole of the lining rather than high pressure at some points and low or zero pressure at others. In particular, in lining ingot mould heads or head boxes, such a surface can compensate for taper of the cavity to be lined, and/or camber or other departures from planarity of the walls ofthe cavity.

The apparatus of the invention may also include guide means, usually attached to the frame, serving to guide the apparatus into the cavity to be lined, and, if the apparatus is inserted carrying lining slabs, to prevent the accidental dislodgement of such slabs.

The apparatus may also include books or otherdevices serving to hold slabs in position on the apparatus prior to their being applied to the cavity wall.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a vertical section through a first embodiment of slab locating apparatus according to the invention, along the lines l-l of FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a similar vertical section along the lines 2- 2 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 22 of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail of an alternative construction of pressure plate.

FIG. 5 is a part cutaway perspective view of a second embodiment of slab locating apparatus according to the invention, and FIG. 6 is an undcrplan view of th apparatus of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the apparatus shown in these figures in particularly designed for the placing of hot top linings slabs in the heads of ingot moulds, which pass, in train, under a framework 1, on which the whole heading unit is mounted. The framework 1 together with the unit is usually moveable to position it over an ingot mould. Above framework 1 and affixed thereto are power means including an actuation cylinder 36 for the raising and lowering of the unit which is inserted in the head of the ingot mould to be lined, and also (in a manner explained in detail below) for moving the pressure plates on the unit.

The unit includes a basic frame having a rectangular base plate 2 supporting four vertical pillars which are connected at their top ends by an A-frame cross member 18 bolted to the top face of each pillar 10.

Each pillar carries two pairs of vertically spaced outwardly projecting shafts 14. First and second pairs of pressure plates 11 and 12 respectively carry collars 13 slideable on shafts 14 so that each pressure plate may move to or from pillars 10. The pressure plates 11, 12 thus form a rectangle which may be expanded and contracted by the plates sliding on the shafts 14.

Also extending upwardly from the base plate 2 are outer and inner aligned shafts 3 and respectively.

Each outer shaft 3 carries two vertically spaced collars l6 interconnected by links (not shown) so that they slide on shaft 3 in unison. The collars 16 have flanges 24 to which are pivotally connected links 17 extending to lugs 39 on the appropriate plate 12. Similarly, the shafts 20 carry collars 19, interconnected by ties 26, from which collar links 29 extend to the side plates 11. Links 29 are connected to flanges 34 on collars 19.

A generally H-shaped first operating plate 30 rests on the top outer collars 16, each leg of the H having a slot 33 to clear the inner pillar 20 and the flanges 34 on the collars 19. A second plate is slideably mounted on the inner pillars 20 vertically above, and spaced from the collars 19. it is resiliently supported by springs 32, above the plate 30. The plate 25 carries a cylindrical sleeve 52 having an inner screwed portion receiving piston rod 35 extending from the hydraulic cylinder 36 mounted on framework 1 above the unit. Plate 25 and plate are also connected via bolts 37, which are fixed to plate 30 but on which plate 25 can slide.

The outer pillars 3 also extend through the framework 1 and carry adjustable stops 4 which limit downward movement of the unit relative to the framework.

Each side and end plate ll, 12 has a series of spaced wooden strips 40. Alternatively, instead of strips 40, and of especial use when mould irregularity is likely to occur, the construction shown in FIG. 4 may be used. In this instance a bolt 41 having a mushroom head is passed through a hole in the plate 1 or 12 and held in the position shown by the spring 55. A series of these bolts are placed in suitable positions over the face of each plate. Alternatively, other forms of spring cushioned devices on the side plates may be used.

Forks 44, pivotally mounted along each side of the base plate 2 carry rods 2 which extend through the upper framework 1 and have adjustable stops 43 to contact the framework 1 and limit the extent of pivotal movement of the forks 44.

The operation of the unit is as follows: The unit framework 1 extends across an ingot mould 50 and is moved into a position approximately centered over the ingot mould. The unit is outside and above the ingot mould 50 in the position shown in the left hand side of FIG. 1. Piston rod 35 is now lowered, stops 4 being so adjusted that the unit base 2 comes to rest at the desired height in the mould, while stops 43 are so adjusted that, at that point, forks 44 have just become horizontal.

As the forks come to the horizontal, they will,

providing the framework 1 has sufficient freedom of movement, contact the mould walls and act finally to center the unit in the mould. The necessary freedom may be provided by mounting the framework 1 on rails, or by mounting the unit on the framework 1 via a turntable, or similar device, which allows sufficient angular and/or lateral movement of the unit relative to the framework 1. At this point, hot top lining slabs 51 bearing a coating of adhesive may be placed in the gaps between end plates 12 and the walls of the ingot mould 50.

Further downward movement of rod 35 moves plate 30 downwards with respect to the base plate 10, thus moving collars 16 down the shafts 3 and end pressure plates 12 out. Spring 32 does not compress more than slightly. This movement of plates 12 presses the two end lining slabs 51 outward against the walls of the mould and adheres them in place. Downward movement of rod 35 is now held at this point and the longer side slabs placed in position.

Further downward movement of rod 35 compresses springs 32, plate 25 sliding down bolts 37, and forces collars 38 on plate 25 to abut collars 19 and move them down pillars 20. This movement forces plates 11 outw ward to force the long slabs against the mould wall and adhere them thereto.

Alternatively, under conditions where there is room to place all four slabs in position initially, for example in lining big-end-up ingot moulds, this may be done and the cycle may be completed without the intermediate delay.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, an alternative form of the apparatus comprises a frame 101 (not shown in full) which supports four side plates 102 by means of telescopic support brackets 103. Each of the plates bears an array of spring pressure pads 104 similar to that shown in detail in FIG. 4.

Movement of the two smaller plates 102 is controlled by piston/cylinder devices 105, mounted between frame 101 and the side plate 102. Movement of the two larger plates 102 is controlled by a single piston/cylinder device 106 mounted between them.

Below the plates 102 and axially slidable in part of the frame 101 are four pairs of prongs, 110. Each pair of prongs is connected via a ling plate 111 to a cruciform plate 112 mounted below the frame 101 and rotateable about a central pivot 113. Rotation of this plate 112 may be effected by means ofa piston cylinder device 114, mounted between frame 101 and plate 1 12.

In the use of this apparatus, the frame 101 is suspended by a chain from a suitable gantry or other support, and suitable hydraulic or pneumatic connections are made to work piston/cylinders 105, 106 and 114. The control of these piston/cylinders may be effected automatically or manually by any convenient known means. The sides 102 and prongs 110 are first retracted to the most withdrawn position and the apparatus then lowered into the mould or head box it is desired to line. The piston/cylinder 114 is then operated to extend the pairs of prongs 110 in unison and so to center the apparatus in the mould or head box, and at the same time to provide a base for the lining slabs to rest on. These slabs are now inserted into the annular gap between the sides 102 and the mould or head box walls. Preferably the rear face of each slab, i.e., the face adjacent the mould or head box wall, bears adhesive.

The piston/cylinders 105 and 106 are then operated to spread out plates 102 and so force the slabs against the walls of the ingot mould or head box, and, by virtue of the adhesive, fix them thereon. If the slabs are not provided with adhesive, nails or clips may be used, but this is not preferred.

Thereafter the plates 102 are retracted and also the pairs of prongs 110. The whole apparatus can then be withdrawn from the mould or head box.

It is to be noted that while the above description is specifically directed to apparatus for lining a downwardly extending cavity from above, the invention is not so limited, and may be used in the lining of cavities of any orientation.

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for use in lining cavities which comprises a frame carrying two pairs of opposed pressure plates arranged in the form of a rectangle, each pair of opposed pressure plates being linked together for movement in generally opposite horizontal directions to vary the size of the rectangle in sequential fashion with the pair of pressure plates forming the shorter side of the rectangle moving outwardly first, a first and second operating member linked to each pair of opposed pressure plates, movement of each of the operating members in the same direction being capableof moving the pressure plates outwardly, said first and second operating members being resiliently biased a predetermined distance apart in said same direction but capable of movement toward one another and actuation means positioned to act on said second operating members to move each of said second operating members towards its associated first operating member to move each pair of opposed pressure plates outwardly.

2. An apparatus for use in lining cavities which comprises a base, a frame mounted on the base and carrying two sets of opposed pressure plates arranged in the form of a rectangle, first means for linking together each set of opposed pressure plates for movement in generally opposite horizontal directions to vary the size of the second means associated with the first means to allow a sequential movement of each of said sets of plates in an outward direction and a single actuation means carried by the base acting initially to move the apparatus to a preset depth in the cavity being lined and then to cooperate with said second means to cause the sequential movement of each of said sets of plates in an outward direction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the outer surface of each pressure plate consists of a flexible pressure appl ing surface.

4. Appara us according to claim 2 wherein each pressure plate comprises a substantially planar plate having on its outer surface a plurality of resiliently mounted pressure pads.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 which includes means for centering the frame in the cavity being lined. 

1. An apparatus for use in lining cavities which comprises a frame carrying two pairs of opposed pressure plates arranged in the form of a rectangle, each pair of opposed pressure plates being linked together for movement in generally opposite horizontal directions to vary the size of the rectangle in sequential fashion with the pair of pressure plates forming the shorter side of the rectangle moving outwardly first, a first and second operating member linked to each pair of opposed pressure plates, movement of each of the operating members in the same direction being capable of moving the pressure plates outWardly, said first and second operating members being resiliently biased a predetermined distance apart in said same direction but capable of movement toward one another and actuation means positioned to act on said second operating members to move each of said second operating members towards its associated first operating member to move each pair of opposed pressure plates outwardly.
 2. An apparatus for use in lining cavities which comprises a base, a frame mounted on the base and carrying two sets of opposed pressure plates arranged in the form of a rectangle, first means for linking together each set of opposed pressure plates for movement in generally opposite horizontal directions to vary the size of the second means associated with the first means to allow a sequential movement of each of said sets of plates in an outward direction and a single actuation means carried by the base acting initially to move the apparatus to a preset depth in the cavity being lined and then to cooperate with said second means to cause the sequential movement of each of said sets of plates in an outward direction.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the outer surface of each pressure plate consists of a flexible pressure applying surface.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each pressure plate comprises a substantially planar plate having on its outer surface a plurality of resiliently mounted pressure pads.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 2 which includes means for centering the frame in the cavity being lined. 